Uttara, Ramna to lead way in smart national ID card upgrade

Voters in four areas of Uttara and Ramna in Dhaka are in line to be the first beneficiaries of the planned new smart national identity cards.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Sept 2016, 05:11 PM
Updated : 2 Oct 2016, 06:53 AM

The cards will be distributed from Oct 3.

Voters in these areas need to surrender the laminated cards, provide fingerprints and iris impressions to get the new smart cards in return.

The move is an experimental initiative of the two Dhaka city corporations.

The feedback from these four wards will be used to provide smart cards to all voters of Dhaka, NID Wing Director General Brig Gen Sultanuzzaman Md Saleh Uddin said.

Uttara election officer Md Shahjalal told bdnews24.com that more than 63,000 voters from Ward No. 1 will get the smart cards between Oct 3 and Oct 22.

Voters of Ramna wards 19, 20 and 21 will also get upgraded to the smart card during the first phase of the distribution, Ramna election officer Mahbuba Mamata Hena said.

Dial 105

A dedicated helpdesk number of the National Register of Identities will answer queries on services relating to the national identity cards.

The NID wing has asked citizens to call 105 to have information on any areas regarding the distribution of the cards.

Kurhigram to go smart

Apart from the capital, Kurhigram voters will also be simultaneously getting the smart voter ID cards.

On Oct 3, the chief election commissioner will inaugurate the process here.

President, PM, cricketers to get smart cards

Election Commission Secretary Md Sirajul Islam said President Md Abdul Hamid's smart card will be handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad as part of the ceremonial launch on Oct 3.

The prime minister will then receive her card from the CEC.

She will then hand the smart cards to members of the national cricket squad.

The president's card will be handed over to him by the CEC and other commissioners when they call on him at the Bangabhaban later that day.